Change your Mindset...Or Your "Bodyset"

You've probably heard of the idea of the power of changing your mindset, a very useful tool, but have you ever thought of changing your "bodyset"? Maybe you've had a light-bulb-on "aha" moment? What if you could do the same thing for your body?...And it might even help with your mindset too!

If you always do something the same way and are dissatisfied with the results, it might be time to change your approach or attitude toward your job, exercise routine, communicating with others, embarking on a new endeavor, or dealing with day to day aches and pains.

Changing how you think about and approach things can be very powerful and sometimes what can really help along changing a mindset, attitude, perspective, or approach is a change in "bodyset". By "bodyset" I mean your physical habits. Your way of holding yourself up, moving, body language, and generally how you feel and respond in the world. "Bodyset" could be described as posture. Your posture is part of the dynamic way you use your body. There isn't one right position. People are constantly in motion, interacting and responding (Even at your computer). You can be dynamic in your thinking and in how you use your body from moment to moment and the trick is to do it in a way that's still spontaneous, but not wrapped up in habits that aren't serving you.

When I was 13, I was fitted for a back brace to prevent my scoliosis from getting worse. It was terribly uncomfortable and I was told I'd get used to it. I wore it for five years and I did adapt to it, but not because it became comfortable. What I got used to was the discomfort, which eventually felt normal. The discomfort continued long after wearing the brace and as a result of having worn it, I was functioning less than optimally. In my mind I had things I wanted to accomplish, but I'd fall short because my bodyset was telling me to make my number one priority getting out of discomfort. If I tried to push through how I felt, I'd end up feeling more exhausted and uncomfortable...affecting from professional endeavors, to exercise, to socializing.

When I started taking Alexander Technique lessons, I realized that my struggles weren't do to any person flaws. I was simply using a lot of misplaced effort just to hold myself up, so it was really hard to be present and I got tired really easily. I think I was creating the sensations of wearing the brace by stiffening my body and straighten myself out. This was very inefficient and exhausting, resulting in a lot of discomfort, tension, and feeling short of breath.

Letting go of these postural habits, changed my "bodyset" and in turn my mindset. I realized I could feel less tense and stressed, more clear-headed, more confident...and accomplish more without getting as tired.

The Alexander Technique gave me the awareness of my habits and the "how" for changing them. I learned to sense more clearly in my body, to start to create a more accurate roadmap to replace the misguidance I'd had from the brace. Any physical habit that isn't useful is kind of like a brace that isn't needed, but if you take it off, it's helpful to learn how to manage without it in a way that feels natural and better.

There's no one right way to begin to make positive changes in your life, but one way is to change your "bodyset". Changing your posture and how your move can improve how you feel, and in turn how you think and what actions you take...which you might call changing your mindset!